The council chamber was once again occupied by the elders in Silverlake. Elders sat down fuming in rage. The atmosphere felt really tense that Rowan didn't dare say a word as he stood at the far end of the long mahogany table. He was fortunate that they could even allow him to be part of the meeting especially when he wasn't an elder of the council. But he was Jasper's assistant. Only he could pass the information to Jasper. Despite being the one currently handling Silverlake’s affairs while Jasper was away, none of the elders had offered him a seat.Rowan didn’t seem bothered.His hands were clasped calmly behind his back, his posture straight, his expression neutral as he listened to the heated discussion unfolding before him.The elders' expressions were dark, their voices sharp as they spoke with loud voices. “This is getting out of hand!” Elder Marino hissed with a deep frown carved into his wrinkled face. His palm slammed against the table, “This was why I never supported

Silverlake was as busy as always. Everyone was busy doing one thing or the other. The noise and honk of the city couldn't penetrate into the private suite of New Holle hotel. Two old men sat across from each other. The room was quiet, on the table was a bottle of wine and two glasses filled with wine. One was old—but far from weak.The other was older—and far from finished.Old Mr. Palmer picked up his glass, his movements unhurried, as though the storm brewing around them had nothing to do with him.Across from him, Elder Vittorio sat with a rigid posture, his eyes fixed on the man opposite him. He could not believe that he was having an audience with Old Mr. Palmer.The Brennan and the Palmer had never had any connection from the past, they were two worlds apart. Although, the were both prestige families, they had their own differences. When he got a call from old Mr. Palmer personally, he was shocked. Old Mr. Palmer spoke first, “I am sure you're wondering why I had called."

The atmosphere in the Brennan council chamber was tense. The room was silent, even a pin drop would be heard, yet the chaos was thick in the air. Elders sat in their respective seats, expressions firm, voices low but heated.Rowan stood at the other end, not bothering to take a seat, hands behind his back. His eyes narrowed when he saw a confident young man walk in and take a seat. Elder Marino’s son. He didn't need to be told. The resemblance was striking. “I believe the decision has already been made,” Marino said, his voice firm. “The position of heir cannot remain vacant.”The young man lifted his chin. Sofia nodded in agreement, “The family needs stability. Immediate stability.”The council nodded at that.The young man standing at the center smirked faintly.As if the position already belonged to him.“I assure the council,” he began, his voice steady, “I will not make the same mistakes Jasper Brennan has made.”A few elders nodded.Approval.Support.Rowan remained quiet.

Jasper sat on the edge of the bed, one leg crossed over the other, his phone resting loosely in his hand as the muted news played across the screen.“…Jasper Brennan’s disappearance continues to raise concerns—”He scrolled past it without interest.Noise.All of it was noise.His mind wasn’t in Silverlake. It was in his mission. The system has given him its own. But he also has his own mission. Sophia. Nothing must happen to her. For now, he remained in Westbridge, but he has men everywhere. And soon, Sophia would be found and free. Westbridge. A quiet city that hid too much.A city that shouldn’t exist the way it did.He has studied the people. They were nice, caring, and honest. Not until these companies came into the city one after the other. And destroyed them from within. Now, they are the shadows of themselves. He didn't know how destroying the companies would benefit him yet, but he followed the system’s direction. It hasn't failed him before. Then—Buzz.A message noti

Elise stood in front of the T.V in her office, her eyes fixed on the screen. Her hands clenched into the fabric of her clothes, heart drumming in her ears. The screens were still flickering.Smoke.Fire.Chaos.One after the other—Elise watched as the twelve companies crumbled like fragile glass under pressure. Reports kept flooding in, overlapping voices, panicked updates, system failures.“Virex servers are down!”“Calderon’s database has been breached!”“Stravik is evacuating!”Her hands trembled.Not from fear.From rage.Anger! “This… bastard…” she whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of something far deeper than anger.Jasper Brennan hadn’t just attacked.He had dismantled all the companies.Everything her family had carefully built, everything her family had hidden beneath, he was tearing it apart piece by piece.Her breathing turned uneven.Sharp.“No…” she muttered, shaking her head as if she could deny what was happening in front of her. “No… no, no, no…”Tears